Grating structure



July 11, 1933. P. T. BLACK 1,917,573

GRATING STRUCTURE Filed April 12 1932 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 1 "Hm INVENTOR MYM Jiil 11, 1933. R BLACK 7 1,917,573

. GRATING STRUCTURE Filed April 12, 1932 x 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ms, mgw

j 3 INVENTOR '7 Mfr/1*; 4

Patented July 11, 1933 PAUL T. BLACK, OF DORMONT, PENNSYLVANIA GRATING STRUCTURE Application filed April 12, 1932. Serial No. 604,686.

My invention relates to a grating structure adaptable for use in numerous places for a variety of purposes.

Numerous types of gratings have previous- 1y been known but all these with which I am familiar are characterized by certain serious objections; The assembly of some types of gratings in the field involves considerable difliculty and necessitates special tools or machinery, such as presses and thelike. Some types of gratings, furthermore, are assembled in sections and do not constitute a unitary structure when complete. Others require numerous parts and a great deal of assembly work, as Well as considerable engineering before installation. The manufacture of these parts in most types of gratings is quite e2;- pensive and even with standard parts, some types of gratings require welding is assembling, or cutting of parts with attendant waste.

I have invented a grating structure which satisfactorily overcomes the foregoing obj ections to present structures of this character.

In accordance with my invention, I assemble a grating comprising a plurality of plates,

bars or other rolled shapes, and a twisted rod of non-circular cross section threaded through appropriately shaped holes punched in the bars, plates or other shapes. The latter are thus securely locked in position on the twisted rods and a rigid unitary structure results.

For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment with certain modifications. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a grating;

Figure. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a View partly in section along the line III-III of Figure 1 and'partly in side elevation showing the grating structure embedded in concrete;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the adaptation of the invention to railroad crossings;

Figure 5 is aview similar to Figure 2 showing one method of building up large sections of grating;

Figure 6 is a partial side elevation of a rolled shape showing the holes punched therein for receiving the twisted locking rod;

Figure 7 is an end view of a grating structure forming stairs;

Figure 8 is a view showing the adaptation of the invention to the formation of building walls; and i a Figure 9 is a modification of the structure of Figure 8.

Referring in detail to the drawings and, in particular, to Figures 1 through 3 for the present, the grating of my invention is constituted by a plurality of rolled shapes, such asbars, plates or other sections, as an example of which T-sections 10 are shown in the drawings. The sections 10 are spaced apart, preferably with their flanges abutting. Non-circular holes 11, for example, square holes, are punched in the webs of the sections and a twisted rod 12 of cross section correspondingto the shape of the holes 11 is threaded through the aligned holes 11 in the spaced sections 10. It will be understood that the spiraled surfaces of the rod 12 have a pitch dependent upon the spacing of the sections 10. The rod 12 is preferably twisted so that the pitch of the spiraled surface isfour times the spacing of the sections 10. There is thus only a 90 degree twist of the 30 rod between adjacent sections.

It will be apparent that the grating may be assembled by placing the sections 10 in position with their holes 11 in alignment, and inserting therods 12. Pushing and twisting. the latter will advance them through the holes in successive sections until the rod has been properly positioned with respect to the sections. The sections are preferably provided with holes 11 punched at intervals, as shown in Figure 2, so that a plurality of rods 12 can be inserted through the webs of adjacent sections. Obviously, the twisted rod 12 looks each section relative to the remainder of the structure so that any shifting thereof is prevented. If desired, adjacent holes in each section may be punched so that rods 12 of opposite. pitch maybe threaded therethrough. This provides a further locking which prevents even the slightest shifting of the members of the grating.

As indicated in Figure 3, the grating is adapted to be filled with a-concrete filling 13 to serve as a bridge flooring, roadway, crossing, or otherwise,

Figure 4" illustrates an example of the use I to which the invention may be put. A roadway crossing a railroad may be carried thereover by a grating such as that shown in Figures 1 through 3. The rails 14 of the railroad may have webs punched to receive the twisted rods 12 which traverse the webs of the spaced T-sections 10- When the T-sections have been placed relativeto the rails and the rods threaded through the sections and rails, a concrete filling completes the cross-over. A smooth, unitary crossing is thus provided.

The grating structure of my invention is capable of being'built up to any desired dimensions. One method of joining adjacent sections is shown in Figure 5. The joints between successive sections extending in longitudinal alignment are sta gered, as are likewise the joints between adjacent twisted rods. In this way, the grating can be extended to any desired dimensions without any definite line of division between adjacent portions thereof. Figure 7 illustrates the application of the 'invention to the assembly of stair steps.

Treads 17 and 18 are built up by the assembly already described. A riser 19 connecting the treads is similarly assembled. The riser is connected to the treads by the twisted rods 12 extending through properly positioned holes in the flanges of the T-se'ctions. The skeleton stairs formed by the grating thus assembled can be embedded in concrete to complete the structure. The stair skeleton can be built up continuously, working from the bottom, in a very short time.

Figure 8 illustrates a skeleton for a wall construction comprising T-sections 20 vertically aligned and having their flanges punched for twisted rods 21, serving to unite the T-sections and lock them into a unitary structure, as already described A plastic filling on both sides of the wall completes its exterior and interior finished surfaces. A modified wall construction is shown in Figure 9 in which Z-bars '22. have their flanges punched for the reception of twisted rods 23. The wall construction of Figure 9 is otherwise similar to that of Figure 8.

It willbe apparent that the invention is applicable to a wide range of uses beyond the limits of illustration in this disclosure. Instead of using straight bars. or ribs,-such as those indicated at 10 in the drawings curved or circular discs may be punched and connected by twisted'rods in the same manner to form askeleton or framework for tubular conduits, sewers and the like. In fact,

the invention may be used wherever it is desired to build up a rigid cage or framework for any purpose whatever, whether adapted to be embedded in concrete or the like, or to be left exposed. Ornamental and protective grille work may be assembled by the method of the invention. Flat bars having non-circular holes punched therein may be locked in spaced position on a twisted rod threaded through such holes. One of the principal vantages over present-types of gratings. In

the first place, it may be assembled in the field very quickly withoutrequiring the use of special tools or machinery. The entire structure is unitary after assembly and the grating may be built .up to any desired dimensions without leaving any definite lines of division between adjacent sections. Only two parts are necessary to build up a grating of any desired dimensions, namely, the plates, bars or rolled shapes, and the twisted rods. The manufacturing operations which must be performed on these parts are quite simple. Twisted rods may be purchased in the open market and the plates, bars and the like punched very readily with holes of the desired shape. Extensive stocks of parts are thus avoided since practically any type of grating may be assembled from a few sizes of the two elements necessary. No engineering of each particular installation is necessary since standard designs can be accommodated to practically all applications. There is no welding or cutting in the assembly, or fitting. For light-weight construction, the twisted rods may be replaced by hollow tubes. The plates, bars orshapes, of course, may

be made of any desired gauge or weight, de-

pending upon the use to which the grating is to be put.

Although I'have illustrated and described but a few possible embodiments of the invention, it will berecognized that its applications are practically unlimited and that the embodiments herein illustrated may be varied; in many respects without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a grating structure, the combination with a plurality of\spaced metallic sections having non-circular holes therein, of a preformed rod having helical surfaces and a noncircular cross section, threaded through" said holes for locking said sections in spaced relation.

2.'In a grille construction, a plurality of 1 metallic sections having non-circular holes therein, and preformed twisted rods of noncircular cross section and having a helical edge, extending through said holes trans- 5 versely of said sections.

3. A floor skeleton comprising a plurality of spaced T-sections having non-circular holes punched in their webs, and preformed, helically twisted rods of non-circular cross 1 section threaded through said holes.

4. A wall construction comprising a plurality of spaced metallic sections having noncircular holes punched therein and preformed, twisted rods having a cross section 1 corresponding to that of said holes threaded through the holes in adjacent sections.

5. A wall or floor construction comprising a plurality of aligned metallic sections having aligned non-circular holes punched through portions thereof, rods of cross section corresponding to that of said holes my hand.

PAUL T. BLACK. 

